‘It’s the Bayeux tapestry of TV!’ After six decades, the seminal series bows out with 70 Up
The long-running ITV documentary series 'Seven Up' is concluding with its final installment, '70 Up'. The series, which has followed the lives of 14 individuals since 1964, is regarded as a seminal piece of social history and television innovation.
Why it matters
Marks the end of a historic longitudinal study that significantly influenced documentary filmmaking and social observation.
The 70 Up participants. Photograph: MultiStory Media/ITV The 70 Up participants. Photograph: MultiStory Media/ITV Television ‘It’s the Bayeux tapestry of TV!’ After six decades, the seminal series bows out with 70 Up The ‘hugely important artefact’ that’s followed 14 children since they were seven is set to air its final instalment. The now-septuagenarians and director Asif Kapadia talk about breaking new ground for 63 years – and changing TV for ever
Prefer the Guardian on Google Described as the Bayeux tapestry of television, the groundbreaking ITV documentary series Seven Up is coming to its final conclusion.
In 1964, a group of randomly chosen seven-year-olds from different backgrounds were brought together and filmed in an attempt to answer questions about the effect of fate, class and environment on people’s aspirations and outcomes.
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